The Philippine government is racing against time to save distressed death row inmate Joselito Zapanta from execution on Nov. 3.
Jejomar Binay, vice president and presidential adviser for Overseas Filipino Workers affairs, appealed to Filipinos worldwide to help raise blood money to free Zapanta in a statement made yesterday on his social media account.
“We are hoping for a miracle,” Binay said in Tagalog. “I hope that we can acquire another deadline extension for Zapanta’s execution or that the aggrieved family decreases the amount of blood money they have demanded,” he added.
Zapanta was sentenced to death by the Saudi High court for taking the life of a Sudanese national in 2009.
The blood money was lowered from SR5 million to SR4 million and the deadline for its collection has already been extended twice, Nov. 3 being the latest.
“We have only raised SAR520,831 so far, which is still way below the total amount needed,” said Binay.
The Philippine government and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) have been appealing for help to raise funds.
Several OFWs have joined the campaign by creating Twitter hashtags and Facebook groups to raise global awareness of Zapanta’s case.
A certain netizen under the user ID “marlonnfrmg tribal” and a group by the name of “Save the Life of Joselito Zapanta from the Death row” group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/save.joselitozapanta/) have also been appealing to world leaders using social media this month.
Numerous Riyadh-based OFW organizations and the Philippine Embassy earlier expressed support but reiterated that they don’t have the leverage to help Zapanta.
“Good things are bound to happen if we continue to hope and pray,” Binay said.
Philippine VP renews call to save Zapanta
